Skate.



B. A. CURE.

SKATE.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.29. 1906.

PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907,

UNITED STATES ATENT ()FFICE SKATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed September 29, 1906. Serial No. 336,777.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN A. CURE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clayton, in the county of Stevens and State of l/Vashington,have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Skates, of whichthe following is a specification.-

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved skate ofthat type which is mounted upon two rollers and are commonly designatedas bicycle skates.

The improvement consists essentially in the provision of means wherebythe supporting wheels can be adjusted with relation to the main frame ofthe skate for the purpose of guiding the latter.

To this end, the frame of the skate has both the foot plate and wheelreceiving forks loosely connected thereto, and a suitable connection isformed between these members whereby any movement 01 the foot platetends to swing the wheel receiving forks with relation to the frame. 7

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof andalso to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the meansfor effecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the skate; Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe same; Fig. 3 is a sectionalview on the line 0cm of Fig. 1 and, Fig.4 is a detail view of the friction pawl for preventing the skate wheelsfrom turning rearwardly.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The main frame. of the skate is in the nature of a longitudinallydisposed bar 1 having the wheel receiving forks 2 pivotally connected tothe opposite ends thereof and the foot plate 3 adjustably connected tothe upper side thereof so that any movement of the foot plate tends toswing the forks. At each end of the bar 1 is located an upwardlyprojecting sleeve 4 which serves as a bearing for the pintle 5 uponwhich the corresponding fork 2 turns. The outer portions of the forks 2are curved or bent upwardly so as to throw the center of gravity as lowas possible, while the inner ends of the forks are provided with thesegmental gearing 6. The supports 7 upon which the front and. rearportions of the foot plate 3 rest are pivotally connected to the bar 1so as to have a swinging movement with relation to the latter, and forthis purpose are formed at their lower ends with sleeves 8 through whichthe rod 1 extends. These sleeves 8 are providedwith the segmentalgearing 9 which meshes with the before mentioned gearing 6 upon theforks 2 so that the latter will be given a swinging movement as the footplate 3 moves from side to side. v The usual clamping means are employedfor securing the foot plate to the shoe of the wearer and a springmember 10 is employed which operates to hold the foot plate normally inan upright position with the supporting wheels 11 inalinement with eachother.

In the specific construction of the spring 10, it will be observed thatthe same s secured at an intermediate point to the bar 1, and comprisestwo laterally and upwardly extending arms which engage with oppositesides of the foot plate. Ferrules 12 are rigidly secured to the bar 1against the inner faces of each of the collars 8, and these ferrulesoperate to prevent any longitudinal movement of the foot plate withrelation to the frame of the skate. A brace member 12 is employed toreinforce the ankle of the wearer and is loosely connected to the skateframe so as to swing in the. vertical plane thereof. The upper end ofthe brace 12 is adapted to be secured in position by means of the strap13 and the semicircular metallic band 14, while the lower end of thebrace is formed with the laterally disposed arm 1 1 which is journaledin a suitable bearing within the rearmost of the ferrules 12*, asindicated at 15 and enables the brace to swing forwardly and rearwardlyin the longitudinal plane of the skate. As shown in the drawings, thebrace 12 is bent outwardly at 16 so as not to interfere with the ankleof the wearer.

In order to prevent the wheels 11 from turning backward, one of thesame, in the present instance, the rear wheel, has a friction disk 17secured to the hub thereof, and a pawl 18 is pivotally mounted so as tohave a frictional engagement with the collar 17 and prevent the wheelfrom turning backward.

In the operation of the skate, it will be apparent that the wearer canreadily guide the skate by shifting his weight upon the foot plates 3 insuch a manner as to throw the same either to the right or left andthereby swing the forks 2 with relation to the bar 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a skate, the combination of a bar having bearings at opposite endsthereof, wheel supporting members journaled in the bearings and providedwith gearing, a foot plate, a support at each end of the foot plate, thesaid supports being formed with sleeves through which the bar passesloosely, and the sleeves having gearing thereon which meshes with thegearing on the wheel supporting members so that any lateral movement ofthe foot plate tends to swing the wheel supporting members with relationto the bar, and a spring for normally holding the foot plate in such aposition that the wheels are in alinement with each other.

2. A skate comprising a longitudinally ex tending frame bar providedwith vertically extending sleeves at its front and rear ends, wheelforks ournaled in said sleeves and extending front and rear therefromand provided with toothed segments, wheels mounted within said-forks,sleeves 7 mounted to turn axially upon the said bar and provided withtoothed plates meshing with the toothed segments of the forks, a footplate supported by the sleeves 7, and a spring secured to the barbetween the sleeve 7 and extending up-. wardly into engagement with thefoot plate and designed to maintain the foot plate in a true verticalposition with respect to the bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A skate comprising a longitudinal bar, wheel forks j ournaled at theends of said bar and provided with rack segments, wheels mounted in saidforks, sleeves mounted to turn axially on the bar and provided withtoothed plates meshing with said rack segments, ferrules 011 the bar andengaging with the respective sleeves, a foot plate supported by saidsleeves, and an ankle brace pivotally connected at its lower end to therearmost ferrule and adapted to swing in the longitudinal plane of thefoot plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN A. CURE.

